Dorvilleid worm

Schistomeringos loveni (Kinberg, 1865)

Taxonomy

Scientific Details

Family level description.Dorvilleidae are a diverse family which include many highly modified commensal and even parasitic forms, however the commonly seen species are free-living in soft sediments and are morphologically uniform: they have a simple prostomium with 4 similar appendages (comprising a pair of antennae and a pair of palps). The eversible pharynx carries a distinctive series of hard denticles sometimes visible through the ventral body wall even without dissection as two dark arcs. Dorsal bundles of chaetae are absent; ventrally chaetae include simple capillaries, forked chaetae and chaetae with compound blades.

Taxonomy

Phylum:

Annelida

Class:

Polychaeta

Order:

Eunicida

Family:

Dorvilleidae

Genus:

Schistomeringos

Species:

loveni

General Description

In members of this genus furcate (or geniculate) neurochaetae are present. In Schistomeringos loveni the furcate chaetae have prongs of unequal lengths and dorsal cirri appear from chaetiger 3. Body up to about 3 cm long.

Biology

This is the only species in the genus known from southern Australia, but others occur in the north.